McCanna confident Zeus' War can improve on opening day
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| # | HorseOdds | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mr. Disrespectful | ||
| 3-1 | C. Dollase | A. Ayuso | |
2 | Cowboy Mike | ||
| 9-2 | S. Miyadi | J. Leparoux | |
3 | Concord Bridge | ||
| 9-2 | R. Ellis | K. Frey | |
4 | Curlin's Kaos | ||
| 6-1 | A. Garcia | R. Gonzalez | |
5 | Sir Rocket | ||
| 2-1 | N. Drysdale | K. Kimura | |
6 | Zeus' War | ||
| 8-1 | T. McCanna | J. Laprida | |
7 | Check's On the Way | ||
| 15-1 | S. Callaghan | C. Belmont | |
In early 2024, Zeus’ War won by two lengths and finished second by a nose in consecutive allowance starts at Golden Gate Fields. Trainer Tim McCanna has seen recent signs that Zeus’ War can return to that form in his second start of 2026 in an allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on Friday.
Zeus’ War, owned by Steve Reger’s Jethorse LLC, was fifth of seven in his first start of the year in a six-furlong allowance at Santa Anita on May 10.
“He didn’t have the best trip,” McCanna said. “He came back and worked well. I think he’ll run better.”
A furlong into the May 10 race, Zeus’ War bumped with a rival and was checked by jockey Tiago Pereira. After racing three wide, Zeus’ War was beaten 5 1/4 lengths. Earlier this month at Santa Anita, Zeus’ War worked five furlongs in 59 seconds on June 6 and a half-mile in 47 last Saturday.
“He should be sitting on a good race,” McCanna said.
Zeus’ War, who has won 3 of 17 starts, will be ridden for the first time by Jeremy Laprida. Zeus’ War has never raced at Los Alamitos, but McCanna speculates the 6-year-old gelding will like the surface.
“The dirt is a little sandier at Santa Anita,” McCanna said. “I think it’s more of a dirt track at Los Al. I think he’ll like the track.”
The runners starting from the two inside post positions, Mr. Disrespectful and Cowboy Mike, pose threats to Zeus’ War. Mr. Disrespectful reared at the start of a one-mile allowance at Santa Anita on June 5 and raced wide before finishing last of seven in his first start since mid-January.
“The other day wasn’t much of a comeback,” trainer Craig Dollase said. “The deal at the gate was unfortunate.”
Mr. Disrepectful won an allowance against statebreds at a mile at Santa Anita last December. A repeat of that performance would be good enough to win on Friday.
Cowboy Mike closed from sixth to finish third in an allowance at a mile at Santa Anita on May 23, the day he was claimed by trainer Steve Miyadi. Cowboy Mike was second in an allowance at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in January 2025, his last start in a sprint.
Zeus’ War drew post 6 on Friday, the featured race on an eight-race program on the opening day of the three-week Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos. The season runs on a Friday-to-Sunday basis through July 5. Del Mar begins its summer meeting on July 17.
There are three stakes at the Los Alamitos meeting – the $100,000 Bertrando for statebred milers on Saturday, the $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby on June 27, and the Grade 2 Great Lady M. on July 4. The $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes is for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.
| # | HorseOdds | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mr. Disrespectful | ||
| 3-1 | C. Dollase | A. Ayuso | |
2 | Cowboy Mike | ||
| 9-2 | S. Miyadi | J. Leparoux | |
3 | Concord Bridge | ||
| 9-2 | R. Ellis | K. Frey | |
4 | Curlin's Kaos | ||
| 6-1 | A. Garcia | R. Gonzalez | |
5 | Sir Rocket | ||
| 2-1 | N. Drysdale | K. Kimura | |
6 | Zeus' War | ||
| 8-1 | T. McCanna | J. Laprida | |
7 | Check's On the Way | ||
| 15-1 | S. Callaghan | C. Belmont | |